The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-01-09
Social Contrasts in the Vanderbilt and Potter
Families, Including Denial of Beauty to
the Lady Who Recited $ 'Ostler Jo."
The Secret Of Graceful Dancing in Cum
bersOme Skirts at Last Revealed.
Imitation Fruits Containing lntoxcants for
the Use Of Women-A Museum Freak
Transformed Into Very Pretty Girl.
CLARA BELLE.
Interesting and Cosby Talk Concerning
Fashionable People and Things.

Interesting and Cosby Talk Concerning |
Fashionable People and Things.
Special to tho indianapolis Journal
New oRK, Jan. S.--There was new opera |
and new necklace for fashionable people to see
this week. The opera was Merlin" and it was |
well enoughsin its way-something wondrous,
the critics said-but concurrent with it's first
the necklace competed for the
admiration of the audience, and won the most
extended regard, too. The triumphant article
was the famous string of pearls that had once
belonged to the Empress Eugene, and been
worn By her in the days Of the French en-
pire. Even IL those times of imperial glitter in
Paris this jeweled thing shone so brightly as to
dazzle beholders accustomed to lavish adorn-
ment. 1t consisted of 346 oriental pearls, set in
golden chain, and it was valued then a. about
one hundred and fifty thousand dollars.
Napoleon's widow put it into "a safe
deposit vault in Paris on her retirement
to Chselhurst and there it lay until the recent
sale of her useless effects. William X. Wander
bilt and his wife were in the French capital, and
they purchased it at $l30, 600. They bought other
things from the Eugene collection, mostly
household embellishments, and these will be dis
AASns "A
nue. residence But Mrs Willie Vanderbilt put
the necklace for the opera. 1t was worn
across the top of her head, thence down the back
of her coiffure to her neck, which it encircled,
with enough of length left to hang down on her
bosom. She is beauty, if you remember, and
leader in the set which is so often accused of
initiating the English arstocracv. Not singer
on the stage, and hardly danseuse. commaded
so many glasses as did Mrs. Vanderbilt and her
necklace.
There could hardly be family with more d.
versity in it than the Vanderbilts possess.
While William K. is ardent devotee of fashion,
Cornelius is inclined to religion and philanthropy,
an George is veritake reciuse-studous,
thoughtful ard visionary. TO George has fallen
the charge of his fathers mausoleum, and he
spends considerable portion of his time in that
sacred duty. Twice week of late he has made
the trip to the cemetery-a bleak ride over on
Staten island-and examined the locked regis
ter, by means of which the detectives record
thsir hourly visits. The widow of William H.
Alexander T. Stewards remains, and she urged
upon George the utmost precauton against
similar outrage. The private guardsmen are
therefore maintained at the tomb, and will be
for several years. Another desire of Mrs. Van
derbilt strangely, is that the inscription on the
compartment hold ing her husbands dust shall
not be known by any other than the family.
This is mere whim, of course, but George sed-
ulously respects it, and no eyes save those of
Vanderbilt can gaze on the tablet. Even the
detectives do not have entrance to the structure.
-
The Potter family also presents wide social
contrast between the very dignifed and conserv-
ative old Bishop, who was buried this week, and
the Mrs. James Brown Potter, who needs no
description to recall her to the knowledge Of a
tired public. Yes she does, though, for the new
est paragraphs emanatine from her so-called
advertising agent" mentions her as 'the beau
tful Mrs Potter" That is one distinction she does
not deserve. Bright, neat. vivacious and even
pretty she may be- but nowhere nigh beautiful
1t is the common idea in society that the staid
and pretentious Potters dislike her publicity,
but for fact she has gone to Paris in the COM
| pany of Assistant Bishop Henry c. Potter, and
the most exclusive of her relatives go to see her
! act. The last time saw her on the Fifth ave-
nue. promenade, by the way, she was followed
| by pet dog whose feet were protected from the
wet and cold by tiny stockings.
| When we come to discussion of beauty in
| women we are on dangerous ground. On Mon
| day the journals briefly itemized the arrest OF
two Sabbath breaking men, whom the police
| had caught unloading some cigarette boxes and
appurtenances at the door Of a photograph gal
lery, where pictures were to have been made ol
employees at work.
1.-THE trouble must have arisen somehow from
! jealousy among the girls in your factory" l re
| marked to the manufacturer. casually meet
| ing him last evening. Tell me about it."
'.You are right" he answered. II meant t.
get up some pictures for cigarette wrappers, ant
so told the foreman of the rolling department t.
nent to sit before the camera He made hi
| choice and told them to report at the gallery a
noon on Sunday. Well, the police rsded tn
wagon-load of things that were to have beel
used in the scenes The complaint had beel
made by an agent of the Sunday League, and
on investigation, we learned that the League go
its information from cigarette girl who though
she ought to have been included in our exhibi
of beauty"
The distinctive new feature in dress is pecu
liar swish and sway of the skirts of dresses wor
at balls in tiptop society. The movement O
the draperies is in harmonic unison with tn
steps of the wearer and she gains considerabl
in picturesqueness, because the outlines OF he
gown are constantly being altered. but are al
the while instinct with life and individuality
The fabric seems to be. as never before, par
and parcel of her personality. It follows that
graceful belle, with good style Of carriage /
walk and waltz is increasedly charming Bu
how is it accomplished will tell you- Th